Fixed-type louver assemblies



Aug. 1, 1967 w. TISCHUK 3,333,525

FIXED-TYPE LOUVER ASSEMBLIES Filed Feb, 9, 1966 5 1N VENTOR. g- 8 Wm. TER 77s CHUK BY AL" .6;

V ATT'a/PNEY United States Patent Office Patented Aug. 1, 1967 3,333,525 FIXED-TYPE LOUVER ASSEMBLIES Walter Tischuk, Richmond, Ind., assignor to H. H. Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 526,296 7 Claims. (Cl. 98-121) This invention relates to louver assemblies of the type having fixed louver blades, and more particularly to improvements in the construction of such louver assemblies.

Fixed-type louver assemblies are frequently employed to admit fresh air into the interior of a building. Louver assemblies are used frequently in conjunction with air conditioning apparatus and the like, as air intakes and/or exhausts. conventionally, fixed-type louver assemblies comprise a rectangular frame consisting of vertical jambs and horizontal head and sill members. A plurality of louver blades extend between the vertical jambs and are rigidly secured thereto in vertically spaced relation so as to provide a plurality of horizontal slot-like gas passageways. The louver blades are inclined and overlapped so that no direct or straight-line path is provided between the blades into the interior of the building. Consequently, debris, rain, snow and the like are effectively prevented from entering .the building or the air conditioning apparatus.

In certain louver assemblies of the prior art, the ends of the louver blades are secured to the vertical jambs at preselected locations thereon, for example, by means of welding, brazing, individual fasteners and the like. These methods of fabricating the louver assemblies are time consuming. The resulting louver assembly with its multitude of parts, is accordingly expensive.

In other louver assemblies of the prior art, a rectangular frame is provided wherein thevertical jambs consist of U-shaped channel members. In order to maintain the desired spacing of the louver blades and in order to eliminate some of the fasteners, a spacer element is interposed between each adjacent pair of the louver blades. Although this type of construction eliminated fasteners, the louver blades, in time, become loose and tend to rattle inasmuch as no means is provided for rigidfying the louver blade assembly.

Accordingly, as an overall object, the present invention seeks to provide a fixed-type louver assembly of improved construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fixedtype louver assembly wherein the louver blades are rigidly aflixed to the vertical jambs without requiring a plurality of fasteners as in the prior art louver assemblies.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fixed-type louver assembly having an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixed- .type' louver assembly of improved construction whereby said assembly is fabricated in less time, with fewer components and at a relatively low cost.

In accordance with the present invention, a louver assembly of the fixed-type, is provided which comprises a pair of spaced, substantially parallel vertical jambs each having 'an elongated recess therein which open toward the other of the jambs. A plurality of spacer elements is fitted into the recess of each of the vertical jambs. Each spacer member is constructed so that it must be snapped into place and is thereby detachably retained on the vertical jamb. A plurality of louver elements extend between the vertical jambs and have slotted ends fitted into the longit'udinal recesses. Each end of each louver element resides between and is supported by adjacent ones of the spacer elements whereby the louver elements are maintained in spaced-apart relation to provide a plurality of horizontal slot-like gas passageways.

The present invention provides tying means, one associated with each of the vertical jambs for tying together the louver elements and the spacer elements engaged with each of the vertical jambs. In order to connect the louver elements and the spacer elements to the vertical jambs, each of the vertical jambs is secured to one of the elements (louver or spacer) engaged therewith, preferably by means of welding. The secured element thus provides an anchor site to which the remaining louver elements and spacer elements may be tied. Each of the tying means subjects the louver elements and the spacer elements to a compressive restraint which rigidly clamps them one to the other and to the vertical jamb.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present fixedtype louver assembly; a

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partially in exploded form, illustrating the configuration and relative positions of assembly, of the various components of the present louver assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IHHI of FIG. 1;

I in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line IX-D( of FIG. 1, illustrating tying means of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a vertical jamb member illustrating an alternative arrangement.

General description Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a fixed-type louver assembly 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The louver assembly 20 includes, in general, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel vertical jambs 22 each receiving the ends of a plurality of louver elements 24. Interposed between the ends of adjacent ones of the louver elements is an intermediate spacer element 26 which maintains the louver elements 24 spaced apart so as to provide a plurality of horizontal, slot-like gaspassageways 27. An end spacer element 28- is received at each end of the vertical jambs 22.

The louver assembly 20 further includes tying means 30, one in each of the vertical jambs 22, for tying the louver elements 24 and the spacer elements 26, 28 together and securing them to the jambs 22. Aswill be more fully described, each of the vertical jambs 22 has one element (spacer or louver) rigidly secured thereto so as to provide a secured element to which the remaining louver elements 24 and spacer elements 26, 28 are tied. The overall arrangement is such that the jambs 22, the louver elements 24 and the spacer elements 26, 28 are secured together as a rigid unit. The tying means 30 is such that the louver assembly 20 may be easily dismantled in the event it becomes necessary to replace, for example, a damaged louver element 24.

In accordance with the invention, the vertical jambs 22, the louver elements 24 and the spacer elements 26, 28, are extruded products, that is, they are formed by an extrusion process. They may be made in any desired length so that substantially any size louver assembly may be assembled. Furthermore, the extrusion fabricating techniques permit close dimensional tolerances to be maintained. Consequently, precise assembly of the preset louver components is accomplished.

Vertical jambs 22 Referring now to FIG. 5, the vertical jamb 22 comprises a generally C-shaped channel member including a central longitudinal web 32 and spaced longitudinal legs 34 each terminating in an inturned flange 36.'The web 32, the legs 34 and the flanges 36 cooperate to define a 1ongitudinal recess 38. The inturned flanges 36 have opposed inner surface portions 40 in which there is formed longitudinally extending grooves 42. As will be more fully described, the grooves 42 cooperate with beads provided on the spacer elements 26, 28 for detachably connecting the spacer elements 26, 28 to the vertical jambs 22.

Louver elements 24 Referring now to FIG. 2, each of the louver elements 24 includes a central inclined portion 44 which terminates along each of its longitudinal edges in vertical segments 46a, 46b and horizontal segments 48a, 48b. Spaced inwardly from each end of the louver elements 24 is a pair of transverse slots 50 which extend through the vertical and horizontal segments 46, 48 and into the central inclined portion 44. The slots 50 are arranged such that when the end of a louver element 24 is fitted into the longitudinal recess 38, the inturned flanges 36 extend through the slots 50 and retain the louver element 24 in fixed relation to the vertical jamb 22. Further, the slots 50 penetrate into the central inclined portion 44 through a distance such that when the central inclined portion 44 engages the inner surface portions of the inturned flanges 36, the central inclined portion 44 is automatically inclined at an angle of approximately with the longitudinal axis of the vertical jambs 22.

As best shown in FIG. 3, .the relative position of adjacent ones of louver elements, for example, the louver elements 24A and 24B, is such that the horizontal segment 48a of the louver element 24A is below the level of the horizontal segment 48b of the louver element 24B. Consequently air passing through the passageway 27 provided by the louver elements 24A,24B, is forced to travel along a curved flow path indicated schematically by the arrow 51. The curved flow path 51, of course, prevents the ingress of rain, snow, debris and the like, into the interior of a building.

Spacer elements 26, 28

The spacer elements 26, 28 are cut from the same extrusion element andhave the cross-sectional configuration illustrated in FIG. 6. The spacer element 26 (28) has a C-shaped configuration including a central web portion 52 and spaced leg portions 54. Beads 56 are provided on opposite outer surface portions 58 of the spaced leg portions 54. The beads 56 extend longitudinally along the spacer element 26 (28) and are shaped to correspond to the shape of the grooves 42 (FIG. 5) in the inturned flanges 36. Furthermore, the overall width of the spacer element 26 (28), that is the distance between the opposite outer surface portions 58, is substantially equal to the distance between the opposed inner surface portions 40 (FIG. 5) of the inturned flanges 36.

The overall arrangement .is such that the spacer eleforced further into the longitudinal recess 38 until the beads 56 engage the grooves 42. It should be noted that the depth of the leg portions 54 and the position of the beads 56 is such that the outer surface 60 of the spacer ment 26 (28) is snapped into place and is detachably element 26 is substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces 62 of the inturned flanges 36. Consequently, the spacer elements 26, 28 serve not only to support the louver elements 24 in the desired spaced-apart relation but also serve to cover-the longitudinal recess 38 in the inclined surfaces 64, 66. When the intermediate spacer elements 26 are installed in the vertical jambs 22, the upper and lower inclined surfaces 64, 66 will engage the lower and upper surfaces, respectively, of adjacent .ones of the louver elements 24. V

7 Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the end spacer ele ments 28 have one end cut on a bias so as to provide an inclined surface 68 which is adapted to engage a surface of a louver element 24. It is to be understood at this time that the end spacer elements are identical in shape and construction and that they differ only in their orientation when installed at the opposite ends of the vertical jambs 22 This relation'is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3.

Tying means 30 to the first plate member 78. The second plate member is disposed in surface engagement with the central longitudinal web 32 of the vertical jamb 22, The first plate members 78 each have an aperture 82 which receives the threaded end 72 of the rod 70.

As best illustrated in FIG. 9, each of the threaded ends 72 receives a nut 84 and a washer'8 6. It should be evident that When the nuts 84 are rotated in the proper direction, compressive restraint is applied to the first plate members 78. This compressive restraint is transferred to the end spacer elements 28 and, in turn, to the louver elements 24 and the intermediate spacer elements 26 :disposed therebetween. The overall arrangement is such that the spacer elements 26, 28 and the louver elements 24 are compressed together into a rigid structure. Inasmuch as the rods 70 are spaced apart from the central web portions 52 of the end spacer elements 28, the compressive restraint create moments which tend to twist the upper and lower end spacer elements 28 out of engagement with the vertical jambs 22. However, the second' plate members 80 are engaged with the vertical jambs to resist the moments and avoid deformation.

Secured element 7 As stated above, each of the vertical jambs 22 has one of the aforementioned elements (louver or spacer) rigidments 26, 28 and the remaining ones of the louver ele-' ments 24- are forcibly compressed together and tied to the lower louver element 24C and, hence, to the vertical jamb 22. The result is a rigid unitary structure.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the secured element may comprise one of the end spacer elements 28 associated with each of the vertical jambs 22. More particularly, the lowermost end spacer elements 28 are secured to the vertical jambs 22 by means of welds 86.

Several distinct advantages arise from the mode of construction of the present fixed-type louver assembly 20. For example, the louver assembly 20 does not require independent fasteners for each component of its assembly. Hence, fabrication operations are relatively simple. The cost of plural fasteners is avoided. Further, the louver elements 24 and the spacer elements 26, 28 are forcibly compressed together thereby eliminating loose, rattling performance. Still further, the louver elements 24 and the spacer elements 26, 28 are installed on the vertical jambs 22 in such a manner that the completed assembly has a finished, aesthetically pleasing appearance. Further still, the tying means 30 is such that the louver assembly 20 may be dismantled in the event it is necessary to replace a damaged louver element or spacer element.

Versatility The present fixed-type louver assembly is fabricated from three principal extrusions which are the louver elements 24, the jamb elements 22 and the spacer elements 26, 2-8. A variety of louver constructions can be developed by providing dilferent louver blade extrusions. The louver blade 24 as seen in FIG. 3 is designed to present an angle approximately 45 with respect to the vertical axis of the jamb 22. If a different louver blade angle is desired, a different louver blade extrusion can be obtained which will present its vertical segments 46 and horizontal segments 48 in the intended disposition. However, the identical jamb element extrusions and spacer extrusions can be utilized by providing a suitable bias cut for the individual spacer elements 26 as seen in FIG. 4.

I claim as my invention:

1. A louver assembly comprising in combination:

a pair of spaced, substantially parallel channel members each including a central longitudinal web, spaced longitudinal legs each terminating in an in turned flange, the web, the legs and the inturned flanges of each of said channel members defining a longitudinal recess opening toward the other of said channel members; plurality of spacer elements fitted into said longitudinal recess of each of said channel members;

.a plurality of louver elements extending between said channel members and having ends fitted into said longitudinal recesses, each end of said louver elements residing between and in contact with adjacent ones of said spacer elements whereby said louver elements are maintained in fixed spaced-apart relation to provide a plurality of gas passageways;

means for fastening each of said channel members to a secured element engaged therewith; and

tying means, one extending through each of said longitudinal recesses for tying the remaining ones of the louver elements and the spacer elements to said secured element and hence to each of said channel members, whereby said louver elements, said spacer elements and said channel members are secured together as a unit.

2. The louver assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said spacer elements has a pair of outer surface portions, said internal flanges having inner surface portions engaged with said pair of outer surface portions, and including means for detachably connecting said spacer elements to said channel members comprising a head on each said outer surface portion and a groove on each said inner surface portion, whereby each of said spacer elements is snapped in place with the said bead engaged in the said groove.

3. The louver assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said spacer elements comprises U-shaped channel segments having a central web portion and spaced leg portions extending into said longitudinal recess between said inturned flanges, the outer surface of said central yveb portion being substantially coplanar with outer surfaces of said inturned flanges, whereby each of said channel members cooperates with the spacer elements engaged therewith to provide a closed vertical support on each side of said louver assembly.

4. The'louver assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said louver element has a pair of transversely extending slots spaced inwardly of each of its ends, said inturned flanges of said channel members residing in said slots and connecting said louver element to said channel members.

5. The louver assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said louver element-s has its ends fastened to said channel members, said one of said louver elements comprising the said secured element to which the remaining ones of the louver elements and the spacer elements are connected.

6. The louver assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said channel members has one of said'spacer elements fastened thereto, said one of said spacer elements comprising the said secured element to which the remaining ones of the louver elements and spacer elements are connected.

7. The louver assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said tying means includes a rod and plate members, one each secured to the end ones of said spacer elements and each having an opening for receiving an end of said rod; and means on the ends of said rods for applying compressive restraint to said plate members whereby said spaced elements and said louver elements are compressed together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,382,075 8/1945 Leslie 98-12l X 2,626,556 1/1953 Davies 98-110 X 2,752,844 7/1956 Simblest 98--l21 3,120,036 2/1964 Minds 98121 X FOREIGN PATENTS 755,038 8/ 1956 Great Britain.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LOUVER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A PAIR OF SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL CHANNEL MEMBERS EACH INCLUDING A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL WEB, SPACED LONGITUDINAL LEGS EACH TERMINATING IN AN INTURNED FLANGE, THE WEB, THE LEGS AND THE INTURNED FLANGES OF EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS DEFINING A LONGITUDINAL RECESS OPENING TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS; A PLURALITY OF SPACER ELEMENTS FITTED INTO SAID LONGITUDINAL RECESS OF EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS; A PLURALITY OF LOUVER ELEMENTS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS AND HAVING ENDS FITTED INTO SAID LONGITUDINAL RECESSES, EACH END OF SAID LOUVER ELEMENTS RESIDING BETWEEN AND IN CONTACT WITH ADJACENT ONES OF SAID SPACER ELEMENTS WHEREBY SAID LOUVER ELEMENTS ARE MAINTAINED IN FIXED SPACED-APART RELATION TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OF GAS PASSAGEWAYS; MEANS FOR FASTENING EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS TO A SECURED ELEMENT ENGAGED THEREWITH; AND TYING MEANS, ONE EXTENDING THROUGH EACH OF SAID LONGITUDINAL RECESSES FOR TYING THE REMAINING ONES OF THE LOUVER ELEMENTS AND THE SPACER ELEMENTS TO SAID SECURED ELEMENT AND HENCE TO EACH OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS, WHEREBY SAID LOUVER ELEMENTS, SAID SPACER ELEMENTS AND SAID CHANNEL MEMBERS ARE SECURED TOGETHER AS A UNIT. 